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Oil and Solid Fuel Heating Mechanics (7331)

Job titles

  • coal furnace installer
  • coal furnace installer-mechanic
  • forced air furnace installer (except gas)
  • View all job titles

Nature of work

Oil and solid fuel heating mechanics install and maintain oil, coal and wood heating systems in residential and commercial buildings. They are employed by heating systems installation and service companies.

Fields of interest

  • Making or building things, constructing, doing repairs, and performing installations
  • Working with your hands

Main duties

  • Oil and solid fuel heating mechanics perform some or all of the following duties:
  • - Read and interpret drawings or specifications to determine work to be performed
  • - Lay out oil burner heating system components and assemble components using hand and power tools
  • - Install oil burner components such as thermostats, motors, piping and safety devices, and connect to fuel supply, ventilation and electrical system
  • - Test installed unit and adjust controls for proper functioning
  • - Troubleshoot and repair malfunctioning oil burners, and their components and controls
  • - Install, maintain and repair coal and wood heating systems
  • - Perform scheduled maintenance service on oil and solid fuel heating systems.

Main characteristics of the occupation

These headings are provided for the following occupation(s) :

Oil and Solid Fuel Heating Mechanics (7331)

Employment requirements

  • * Completion of secondary school is usually required.
  • * Completion of a three- to four-year apprenticeship program orA combination of over four years of work experience in the trade and some college or industry courses in heating systems installation and repair is usually required for trade certification.
  • * Trade certification is compulsory in Nova Scotia and Quebec and is available, but voluntary, in Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, British Columbia, Nunavut, the Northwest Territories and the Yukon.
  • * Interprovincial trade certification (Red Seal) is also available to qualified oil burner mechanics.

Skill type

  • Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations

Skill level

  • Technical

More information

  • * Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.
  • * Red Seal trade certification allows for interprovincial mobility.

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